The hospitality industry is obviously a major component of the local economy. But it’s an important resource for residents as well. Take New Orleans native Norma Dietz, for example. As a personal concierge at The Roosevelt, Norma plays a crucial role in the hotel’s ability to serve guests. In turn, the hospitality industry has given her the opportunity over the years to move up the career ladder as she developed new skills.

Hospitality also provides a wide range of career opportunities for younger residents in particular, even students still in high school. In addition to providing real-world experience, hotels give employees the chance to work for an international brand. The Roosevelt, for example, is managed by the world-famous Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, a company with hotels in Italy, Saudi Arabia, Amsterdam, China, Israel, France, etc.

The Roosevelt New Orleans (130 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, LA 70112)

Q: What do you love most about living in the city?

I absolutely love the people, the food and of course the music. How can you not fall in love with the fact that there is always something going on in our city that you can attend?

I absolutely love the people

Q: Tell us how you became a personal concierge, and what’s it like working at The Roosevelt?

Working at The Roosevelt is awesome! Before joining the Waldorf Astoria family, I graduated from Riverdale High School and worked for Landry’s Inc. After that, I worked as a barista at Teddy’s Café and then as a retail associate in The Roosevelt’s boutique.

My manager at the time suggested that I would be a good fit as a Personal Concierge and asked me to apply. I didn’t really know about the position, so I did some research and found that I was very interested in what they do! As a personal concierge, I enjoy creating memorable experiences for my guests. I’ve always enjoyed engaging with people.

Q: What words of wisdom do you have for high school students considering a career in hospitality?

You have to be passionate about what you’re doing! That’s definitely the most important thing.

Q: How important is the tourism and hospitality industry to our city, in your opinion?

Tourism and hospitality go hand in hand. They’re very important to New Orleans because it’s a rapidly growing industry, and it contributes greatly to our city’s economy.

Q: The #nolaNOW hashtag is a celebration of our city’s resilience – how far we’ve come and how far we plan to go economically, creatively, physically, etc. Tell us what #nolaNOW means to you.

To me, #nolaNOW means, “Let’s keep on moving forward!” Let’s bring new companies, brands and people to our city, so they can fall in love with New Orleans just like we have.